Zanu PF Youth Arrested Over Death Threats on Businessman

Chiponda who is also the son of Bulawayo Zanu -PF provincial Indigenisation Secretary Charles Chiponda, threatened to kill white businesman Wayne Newton Brenber who owns Greys Fuel Service Station along 12th Avenue and Josiah Tongogara Street in the city.

According to the state outline Chiponda, initially visited Brenber at his Service Station early this month demanding free fuel to transport Zanu (PF) youths  from Bulawayo to Mugabe’s belated 88th birthday Chipinge music gala which was being held under 21st February Movement banner. 

After failing to secure free fuel from Brenber, Chiponda returned to Greys Fuel Service Station last Friday and started shouting at the white businessman’s wife who was present saying “Tell him this is not Rhodesia its Zimbabwe I am going to kill him”.

Chiponda was arrested and appeared before Magistrate Munjanja yesterday charged with extortion as defined in Section 134 of the Criminal Law.

Magistrate Munjanja granted Chiponda bail of US$120 and postponed the matter to next week.

The arrest of Chiponda came just a week after other four Zanu-PF youths were also arrested for extortion in Bulawayo.

The four Zanu -PF youths Hardlife Ndlovu, Ngobani Mlilo, Mthunzi Mabhena and Obert Musendo appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Gideon Ruvetsa facing kidnap and extortion charges last week.

They are accused of having kidnapped a group of Commuter Omnibus drivers and rank marshals in the city before extorting money from them.

There has been an upsurge in number of Zanu-PF members who are going around the city threatening businesspeople, ordinary people and occupying buildings in the past recent months claiming to be implementing Indigenisation and Empowerment Act.

Last year several buildings owned by foreign business people were occupied by the party’s youths.